Jon Jones teases UFC retirement U-turn as ex-heavyweight champion hits back at Dana White comments - 'Door hasn't been completely closed'

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Despite his retirement being announced by UFC CEO Dana White in June, and subsequently losing his undisputed heavyweight belt to Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones is "optimistic" he could return to the Octagon amid speculation over a potential event taking place at the White House. Jones said he is "still training" and that the "door hasn't been completely closed" on a stunning retirement U-turn.

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Former UFC undisputed heavyweight champion Jon Jones has teased a potential return after his retirement was announced by UFC CEO Dana White in June.

Jones, 38, surrendered his belt to Tom Aspinall, who had long been calling out the American for a unified title fight which never materialised.

Both White and United States president Donald Trump have said a UFC event is set to take place at the White House in Washington D.C. on July 4, 2026.

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But speaking after UFC 319, White quashed speculation over a potential Jones return for the event, saying he has a "one-in-a-billion" chance of making the card, adding: "I don't trust him."

In response, Jones wrote in a post on X on Monday that he feels able to compete and wants to be a part of the White House event.

"Despite the odds, I’m still training and optimistic about the possibility of being part of the White House event," Jones wrote.

"At the end of the day, Dana is the boss and it’s his call whether I compete that night or not. I do know Dana was really excited about the fight, and the door hasn’t been completely closed.

"That’s all a guy like me really needs. It sounds like another awesome goal to be inspired by. Sometimes in life, we’re not going to reach everything we set out to do and that’s okay.

"But I like my chances… after all, one in a billion is exactly what it took to end up as Jon ‘Bones’ Jones in the first place."

Jones had previously said competing at the White House would give him "something deeper to fight for".

The American has taken to the Octagon just three times since July 2019, and most recently defended his belt against Stipe Miocic with a third-round TKO at UFC 309 in November last year.

His retirement was confirmed by White in June amid rampant speculation over a potential title bout against Aspinall.

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Calls for the fight went as far as repeated call-outs from Aspinall himself, while White said he would do all he could to make the fight happen - but conceded there is "nothing you can do" if Jones wanted to retire.

Aspinall played a back-up role to Jones' bout with Miocic last year in the case of a drop-out, but was not called upon.

Jones' only career defeat came in the form of a controversial disqualification in a bout against Matt Hamill in which he was adjudged to have illegally used his elbows.

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